Community Update

This morning was interrupted by an unusual event - an earthquake centered in New Jersey that could be felt across Long Island, including in Syosset. I want to express my appreciation for the quick response of our building teams and our partners in the emergency management community. Together, we were able to quickly assess the situation, perform rapid inspections, and return to normal operations. The US Geological Survey has issued an aftershock forecast for the next week (with the aftershocks most likely to be milder than today’s event), so we will remain vigilant.

On the docket his weekend, the South Woods Middle School Musical: a rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Fifty of our students on the cast and crew have been hard at work rehearsing. You don’t want to miss it! You still have time to make the 7:30 pm show tonight – or see it tomorrow at noon. The preview pictures show me this is going to be a great show!

This week, my administrative team held its second meeting of the year with the elementary student “cabinet.” It’s always informative to hear directly from the students we serve how they are feeling about the educational opportunities our District has worked diligently to develop.

The students are remarkably perceptive. Earlier this year, the students expressed concerns that their “Go Math” books didn’t have enough room to show their work. A District team reviewing updates to the math curriculum arrived at the same conclusion. So we used this as an example to the students that their voices matter – and when they speak up, they can create positive change for themselves and their peers.

We also had a thought-provoking conversation (with 5th graders!) about Artificial Intelligence, specifically Chat GPT, and how it is shaping the education landscape. And we also gleaned information from them about smartphone and social media use among their peers. My meeting with the secondary school student cabinet is coming up – and I’m eager to hear their thoughts on these subjects.

The students were excited to talk about Monday’s solar eclipse and I asked how they could help keep their younger peers safe. More on that in my (very) bright spot…

Our Syo Sports stars are also Syo Scholars! All 12 of our winter sports teams have been named Scholar-Athlete teams by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA). This means that more than 75% of athletes on all of our teams have GPAs of 90 or higher. A student-athlete's ability to build and maintain a strong academic foundation while also participating in a demanding, competitive sport, requires immense dedication and hard work. Congratulations to our athletes on this accomplishment!

Newsday is also rolling out its Top High School players lists for the upcoming Spring season, and our Syosset athletes are being highlighted as among the best.

Our reputation for arts excellence is exemplified by our music programs. For the 23rd year, Syosset has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation. This recognition is awarded to districts that demonstrate exceptional achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The collective efforts of our teachers, administrators, parents, and students have been instrumental in making music part of a well-rounded education for every child. Congratulations, Syo musicians and teachers!

Syosset’s FIRST Robotics team brought home the championship title from the Long Island Regional Competition! Out of 49 talented teams, Syo claimed the top spot, securing the title of 1st seed alliance captains and ultimately clinching the championship. This accomplishment is really remarkable considering this is a new program. I met briefly with the team and shared some words of congratulations – noting that I thought their “Rookie of the Year” award last year meant that we could probably anticipate a championship in perhaps 4 to 5 years. I was gobsmacked to learn they nailed it in their second year! This victory means the team is headed to Houston, Texas later this month to compete in the Worlds competition on a global stage. Good luck, team!

As you’ve all heard by now, this coming Monday, April 8th, there will be a partial solar eclipse here on Long Island beginning at 2:12pm. During the peak of this eclipse, about 90% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon as it passes between the Sun and Earth, creating a stunning celestial display. So stunning in fact, it’s tempting to look up! But, DON’T! Looking at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can permanently impair your vision.

For safety, we’ve secured special solar glasses for elementary and middle school students and we’re teaching into the moment. For the past few weeks, students across the District have been learning about the solar eclipse. When we asked our elementary student cabinet broadly if they knew what was happening Monday, they all raised their hands, and were quite conversant in how to stay safe during the eclipse.